The San Antonio Food Bank has a mission of fighting food insecurity throughout 29 counties and feeding hope. Since 1980, the organization has grown to feed 100,000 food-insecure individuals each week.
It’s latest venture? Affordable housing.
The Food Bank is expanding its mission of fighting hunger to fighting housing insecurity through its affordable housing project called the Apple Seeds Apartments, located next to its New Braunfels Food Bank branch. We sat down with the Chief Executive Officer, Eric Cooper, to talk about the new development.
Editor’s note: This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.
Planting stronger roots in New Braunfels
The Apple Seeds Apartments will offer programmatic housing, which allows residents to take classes like financial literacy and other topics while on property. The development will be transitional in nature, giving tenants the ability to have stable housing through 24-36 month lease options at reduced market rent rate.
“We want families to continue their upward trajectory. Which is why the Apple Seeds Apartments is offering two to three-bedroom units for single parents or dual-parent households” said the CEO of the San Antonio Food Bank, Eric Cooper.
Future residents can apply in the spring of 2025 with move-ins beginning summer of that same year.
The food bank’s impact doesn’t stop at the end of the lease agreement. Post-move, former tenants can apply for a stipend to help them achieve their next life step.
The perfect storm
According to Cooper, this housing project is a great step towards New Braunfels expanding its nonprofit community after looking at the Alamo City’s as a goalpost. Various donors + investors expressed interest over time, until the board gave the seal of approval and it was full steam ahead
“What we do is people, and we meet people’s needs.”
When asked how one gauges success on a project like this, the answer isn’t in dollars and cents. It’s people-powered.
“If we’re part of a residents journey to take them to a permanent housing situation or better living conditions, that’s success to me.”